{"id":263252,"date":"2026-05-08T10:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T10:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/263252\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T10:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T10:00:13","slug":"new-apopka-city-commission-denies-5-0-mixed-use-amendment-for-townhomes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/263252\/","title":{"rendered":"New\u00a0Apopka\u00a0City\u00a0Commission\u00a0denies 5-0\u00a0mixed-use amendment for\u00a0townhomes\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Apopka City Commission on Wednesday<\/a>\u00a0unanimously rejected a small-scale future land use amendment that would have allowed an eight\u2011unit townhouse project near downtown, citing worries about neighborhood compatibility and the project\u2019s density.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The newly seated commission\u00a0voted 5-0 to deny\u00a0a first-reading request\u00a0to change the future land use designation for properties at 171 W. Orange St. and 15 N. Washington Ave. from\u00a0residential\u00a0low to\u00a0mixed\u00a0use.\u00a0The move\u00a0indicated\u00a0the new commission may take a different approach to development, which was\u00a0the top concern of\u00a0voters in the recent city elections\u00a0that brought\u00a0big changes\u00a0to City Hall<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The amendment would have increased the allowable residential density from five dwelling units per acre to 15 dwelling units per acre for the\u00a0nearly 0.9-acre\u00a0site, paving the way for a proposed eight-unit townhome development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

City planner Jun Sohn told commissioners the request was intended to make the properties\u2019 future land use designation consistent with their existing Mixed-Use Downtown zoning designation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe requested future land use is mixed use, and it will make the future land use consistent with the current zoning,\u201d Sohn said. \u201cMixed use land use allows 15 dwelling units per acre or a 1.0 floor area ratio.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sohn said the proposal called for \u201ctwo townhome buildings for the total eight residential units,\u201d though he emphasized the site plan shown during the meeting was only conceptual.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Development Review Committee recommended approval Feb. 18, while the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval April 14, according to\u00a0Sohn.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nearby resident Lynette Anderson urged commissioners to reject the proposal, citing concerns about traffic,\u00a0drainage\u00a0and density in the neighborhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWith\u00a0these eight two-story, four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath, two-car garage units, there could be an increase of 16 to 20-plus vehicles accessing the intersection of West Orange and North Washington,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cAny increase is too much.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

She also criticized what she described as\u00a0overdevelopment\u00a0of a small parcel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe actual size allotted for both the eight townhouses and the section for additional parking is only approximately\u00a00.64 acres, barely more than one-half acre allotted for the townhouses,\u201d Anderson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During commission discussion, Commissioner Sam Ruth repeatedly questioned whether the proposed density\u00a0fit\u00a0the character of the surrounding area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe surrounding neighborhoods, the houses around it, are of\u00a0single\u00a0story,\u201d Ruth said. \u201cAnd then in this corner, there would be eight assembled, but it would be multi-story.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Project representative Alynne Cordray defended the proposal, arguing it aligned with urban planning goals encouraging walkability and redevelopment near commercial areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen areas are redeveloped and you want to add density to have city services kind of closer together and walkable area, this fits the traditional town planning,\u201d Cordray said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Commissioner Yesenia Baron said she believed the proposed buildings were attractive but incompatible with the neighborhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cRespectfully, I think your units are aesthetically beautiful, but I don\u2019t think they fit in this area,\u201d Baron said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Baron suggested lower-density single-family homes may be more\u00a0appropriate for\u00a0the site.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Once\u00a0discussion concluded, Commissioner Nadia Anderson moved to deny the ordinance. Ruth seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.<\/p>\n

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